Apparatus for producing strand packages of uniform length



y 9 s. A. PETERSEN 3,251,552

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STRAND PACKAGES OF UNIFORM LENGTH Filed June 10, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llllIllllIlI i INVENTOR.

VE'ND APE RSEN H', BY

May 17, 1966 s. A. PETERSEN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING STRAND PACKAGES 0F UNIFORM LENGTH Filed June 10, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOENEY United States Patent Filed June 10, 19:33, $91. No. 286,740 3 Claims. (Cl. 24239) This invention generally relates to the production of strand packages of uniform length, and more specifically to the Winding of strand in uniform lengths within close limits. Still more particularly, this invention relates to the production of strand packages wherein a strand is wound from a primary package into a secondary package.

In the textile industry it has heretofore been the pracice to provide length measuring devices which are directly connected, or connected through a mechanical train, to

the motor providing the motive means for winding the strand. Consequently, the prior art measuring devices in effect count the revolutions of the winding motor. However, this method is not an accurate measurement of the strand yardage being wound because it fails to take into account factors such as increased yardage per revolution because of package buildup. Other attendant disadvantages contributing to inaccurate measurements are:

variations in linear velocity of the advancing strand due to fluctuations in the winder speed and other reasons;

variations in tension because of method of winding, package build-up, binder differences, etc.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide apparatus for producing uniform predetermined lengths of strand material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide ap- V paratus for producing wound packages of uniform lengths without the attendant disadvantages referred to above.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is adapted to operate in conjunction with electrically driven winding equipment. In accordance therewith a strand is advanced from a primary package, or source of supply, to the secondary package being formed. As the strand is advanced it is caused to rotate the roller of a length-measuring device. The motive power for the length-measuring device is the advancing strand and the rotation of the measuring roller is independent of the winding motor, except to the extent that the winding motor advances the strand. The measuring roller is mounted on the input shaft of a speed reducer, and preferably encases the speed reducer. The output shaft of the speed reducer in turn is operatively connected to a cam cooperating with a cam follower of an electrical switch to transmit an electrical impulse or signal representative of increments of yardage or 3,251,562 Patented May 17, 1966 tus incorporating the length-measuring device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of another form of winding apparatus which may incorporate the length-measuring device of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the length-measuring device of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of reduced size taken along lines 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational View of the tension and the strand detection devices shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 5; and a FIG. 7 is a diagram of a portion of the electrical circuit that may be employed in connection with the apparatus of this invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, rack supports a bank of primary strand packages 10 and forms the strand supply section for supplying strand material 12 to the winding section 14. The strand winding section 14 includes a power motive source such as electrical motor 16 carrying arbor 18 upon which is mounted, for rotation therewith, winding tube 20. Winding tube 20 forms the core for the secondary package 22 being 'newly formed.

Associatedwith each package 10 is a guide eye 24 suitably secured to base 25 which in turn is secured to support member 26 and adapted to receive the strand 12 extending from the package 10. From the guide eye 24 the strand 12 is advanced through gob stop 28. Stop 28 is provided with an aperture 30 of a preselected size,

through which strand 12 is threaded, to preclude enable mounted on support member 26.

length of strand passing over the measuring roller. The

electrical impulse is transmitted to an electrical counter which operates to open the power circuit to the winding losing count of the yardage.

The invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of winding appara- In conjunction with each tension device 38 is a knockoff strand detecting or stop motion device 42 which detects the breakage or exhaustion of the strand 12 and accordingly controls, through a suitable circuit in a manner hereinafter described, the rotation of the winder motor 16. A feeler member 44 of wire is attached to pivot member 46 supported between legs 48 and 50 of base 25. A bar of magnetic material forms a switch actuator 52 and is secured to feeler 44 adjacent to switch 54 and which is shown to be of the magnetic reed type and aflixed to leg 48.

Preliminary to the winding operation, the strand 12 is threaded from tension device 38 into engagement with feeler 44 at notched portion 62 to hold feeler 44 in an upper position shown in FIG. 5. When feeler 44 is in the upper position, switch 54 is actuated to close the winding circuit. The winding circuit is maintained eifective so long as all of the strands 12 leading to the winder section remain continuous, i.e., maintain the feeler 44 in an upper position, but becomes ineifective upon breakage of one of the strands and a feeler 44 drops to a lower position.

Although only one motor 16, arbor 18 and tube 20 are shown in strand winding section 14 of FIG. 1, it is to be understood that sufiicient arbors 18, tubes 20 and cooperating driving means may be provided to correspond in number to the number of strands or roving packages 22 desired to be produced. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment wherein several strands 12 are converged by a suitable converger 13 into a single strand 12B and wherein a single length-measuring device 64 is employed in conjunction with the strand 12A, however, a length-measuring device 66 may be employed in conjunction with each strand 12 and the several strands 12 need not be converged. It will be further understood that converger 13 may be in the form of a traversing eyelet serving to traverse the strands 12 across the face of tube 20 and that separate converging and traversing means may be provided.

The length-measuring device 64 illustrated in detail in FIG. 3 comprises a rotatable roller element' 68 over which the strand 12 is advanced in its path to the winding section 14. The roller 66 is suitably supported at one end'68 by the input shaft 70 of speed reducer 72. The opposite end 74 of roller 66 is mounted on one or more bearings 76 having a race 78 secured to stationary frame 80. The speed reducer 72 is also fixedly secured to frame 80 by suitable means such as bolt 82. The output shaft 84 of speed reducer 72 is shown to be coupled to. cam shaft 86 by means of coupler 88.

Cam 90 is joumalled to shaft 86 for rotation therewith and cooperatively engages cam follower 92 of electrical switch 94. By means of switch 94, electrical signals or impulses, representative of the number of revolutions cam 90 makes, and consequently the strand yardage passing over roller 66, are transmitted to indicia means such as predetermined electrical counter 96, which is a commercially available item and may be represented by I Model -SP-1-MF sold by the Durant Company. When the measured yardage corresponds to the set point as preselected by knob reset 97 on counter 96, the electrical power to motor 16 will be cut off and the winding operation automatically stopped. 1

One embodiment that has been built and proven to be successful comprises: a roller 66 having an external diameter of 1.819 inches and being mounted on the high speed or input shaft 70 of a 31.5:1 ratio speed reducer. When the arbor 18 winds at the rate of 1200 yards per minute, the high speed or input shaft 70 makes 7560 r.p.m. and the low speed or output shaft 84 makes 240 rpm. Thus, each revolution of the low speed shaft 84 and consequently each actuation of switch 94, represents five strand yards. When the number of actuations of switch 94 correspond to the preselected yardage on counter 96 the power through the internal electrical circuitry of counter 96 will be cut off to motor 16. In the embodiment of the length-measuring device 64 built and as disclosed in FIG. 3, the frictional force required to drive the roller is very low, in the order of .01 ounce inch, therefore slippage is at a minimum.

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically the length-measuring device 64 in connection with a twister machine 100. While only two stations 102 of the twister machine 100 are shown, as many as one hundred are commonly driven by the same motive means. Thus, if one twister 102 is stopped all of those that are commonly driven are stopped. Consequently, in the event of a strand breakage, the productivity of all the twisters is lost. Also, if the spindles or twisters 102 are overrun, so that more than desired yardage is wound on a twister 102, the overage will be duplicated on all of the twisters 102. Hence, a positive measuring device coupled with means to stop the twister machine 100 when the desired yardage is wound represents a material advancement in the art.

As shown in FIG. 2, the strand 12A is advanced from primary packages A to the secondary package 22A being formed on bobbin 104. The strand 12A in its path to bobbin 104 is advanced over roller 66A of lengthmeasuring device 64. While a separate length-measuring device 64A is shown for each of the two twister winding stations 102, it will be understood that only one lengthhence need not be described here except to note that the operation can be automatically controlled through the provision of a suitable .Circuit, such as that to be later described in particular regard with the winder section 14 shown in FIG. 1, but which may be readily adapted for use with the twister machine 100.

The operational principles .of the counter 96 are the same whether it is used in connection with the strand winder shown in FIG. 1 or with the twister machine of FIG. 2. The counter 96 is adapted to be set to actuate an electrical relay switch 110, upon completion of counting of the selected yardage of strand as determined by the revolutions made by roller 66 of measuring device 64, and to discontinue the power to the driving motor 16.

By referring to the electrical circuit diagram of FIG. 7, the operation of the stopping mechanism will be better understood. A stant box 112 is shown in connection with driving motor 16 as receiving power for driving the motor 16 through lines L 1 and L-2 and as receiving power for circuit control through lines L3 and L-4. The normally open switches 54 of strand detect-ing and stop motion device 42 are connected in parallel with the normally open switch 124 of electrical counter 96. The circuit is illustrated in the operative position and as embodying switches 54 corresponding to two of the primary packages being wound on arbor 18. However, it will be apparent that any number of switches 54, preferably the number corresponding to the package positions feeding to a winder, may be included. In the event of strand breakage as sensed by the feeler member 44, the corresponding switch 54 will be closed and the relay coil 114 energized. The energization of relay coil 114 will cause contacts 116 of double pole double throw switch 120 to close and trip the circuit within start box 112 of motor 16 and cut off the operating power thereto. At the same time the closing of any of the switches 54 optionally may be caused to operate the braking device designated schematically by the circle marked B. The brake B may be mechanical or electrical and of a suitable type well known in the art and may be employed to instantaneously stop the rotation of the motor 16 and/or the rotation of the arbor 18. It will be apparent that the switch 120 and the brake B each form means, individually or collectively, for stopping the winding mechanism. The stoppage allows the broken or depleted strand 1 2 to be spliced or replenished after which the winding may be continued by depressing normally closed start button 122. Depressing button 122 will de-energize relay 114 and cause switch 120 to move from its closed position assu-med when relay 114 was energized.

When the counter 96 registers the number of impulses or closings of switch 94 by cam corresponding to the desired preselected yardage to be wound, the internal switch 124 of counter 96 will close and energize the relay coil 114 in much the same manner as that described in connection with the closing of one of the switches 54 and the same result will be attained. The counter 96 can then be reset and the winding operation started again by depressing start button 122.

- A signal S, eithervisual or audible, designated schematically by the circle marked S may be optionally incorporated in the control circuit to operate at the same time that the winder is stopped, whether due to completion or intrruption of the winding cycle.

It will be apparent that the instant invention overcomes the difficulties noted and accomplishes the stated objects. The measuring of the strand yardage being advanced and wound by the method and apparatus described obviates the necessity for changing any gear trains between production runs of different types or sizes of strand material in order to compensate for such differences. Furthermore, valuable production time and effort is saved by virtue of the automatic controls employed to wind strand packages of uniformly accurate yardage without reliance upon the operators personal judgment.

Although the method and apparatus have been described in detail as to theircomponent steps and parts, it will be understood that such detail is for the purpose of 3,251,562 d illustration and not by way of limitation. The appended (g) counting means counting the impulses of said first claims are therefore intended to cover any such modifiswitch means and incorporating second switch means cations coming within the true scope of the invention.

What I claim:

1. Apparatus for winding strand material comprising:

(a) a source of strand in wound package form;

(13) powered strand winding mechanism advancing said strand from said source in a path;

(c) detection means detecting the presence of the advancing strand along said path;

actuated by a preselected number of impulses from said first switch means,

(h) preseleoting means for preselecting on said counting means the number of impulses required from said first switch means to actuate said second switch means, and- (i) means actuated by said second switch means for controlling said power means and stopping said wind- (d) a length-measuring device along said path and ing mechanism upon actuation of said second powered by the movement of said strand; switch means by said preselected number of said (e) electrical circuit means controlling the source of impulses.

power to said winding mechanism including; 3. The apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein said (f) first switch means, actuated by said detection 15 length measuring device includes:

means, for stopping said winding mechanism in (a) a roller adapted to contact and to be rotated by event of the absence or breakage of the correspondthe advancing strand; ing strand; and (b) speed reducer means including a high speed shaft (g) second switch means actuated by said length-ineasand a low speed shaft, said high speed shaft mounturing device, and transmitting an impulse for each ing said roller; and actuation; (c) a cam mounted for rotation by the low speed shaft (h) counting means counting the impulses of said secand actuating said first switch means.

0nd switch means and incorporating third switch means actuated by a preselected number of impulses References Cited y the Examiner from said second switch means; and UNITED STATES PATENTS (i) preselecting means for preselecting on said count ing means the number of impulses required from said secondi switch means to actuate said third 68663 ussey switch means, said third switch means upon actua- 7/1932 Johnson 33-432 tion by the preselected number of said impulses stop- 2,160,024 5/1939 Marcellus ping saidwinding mechanislm 2,557,450 6/ 195 1 MentZ/el 3 3141 2. Apparatus" for winding strand material comprising: 2,969,197 1/1961 Weber et 242-137 (a) a source of strand in wound package form; 3:012:327 12/1961 Plm X b strand winding mechanism advancing said strand irom said source in a path; FOREIGN PATENTS (c) a length measuring device along said path and 585,418 10/1959 Canada.

powered by the movement of said strand; 321,958 9/1902 France. (d) power means for operating said strand winding electrical circuit means controlling said power German application No. 1,116,908, Mockel, pub. Nov.

means including (f) first switch means actuated by said length measuring device, and transmitting an impulse for each actuation, v

11, 1961 (K1. 42ib5).

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

2. APPARATUS FOR WINDING STRAND MATERIAL COMPRISING: (A) A SOURCE OF STRAND IN WOUND PACKAGE FORM; (B) STRAND WINDING MECHANISM ADVANCING SAID STRAND FROM SAID SOURCE IN A PATH; (C) A LENGTH MEASURING DEVICE ALONG SAID PATH AND POWERED BY THE MOVEMENT OF SAID STRAND; (D) POWER MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID STRAND WINDING MECHANISM; (E) ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MEANS CONTROLLING SAID POWER MEANS INCLUDING (F) FIRST SWITCH MEANS ACTUATED BY SAID LENGTH MEASURING DEVICE, AND TRANSMITTING AN IMPULSE FOR EACH ACTUATION, (G) COUNTING MEANS COUNTING THE IMPULSES OF SAID FIRST SWITCH MEANS AND INCORPORATING SECOND SWITCH MEANS 